Metallica's legacy isn't going to have a problem living on in the musical world, though in the realm of science they might need a little help. Thanks to Dr. Torben Riehl and Dr. Bart De Smet from Ghent University in Belgium, they're getting it.
The two doctors have dubbed a new half-inch-long crustacean that lives about 13,500 feet under the ocean Macrostylis metallicola. Of course the name is a reference to Metallica, but the duo tells Phys.org that the alternate reason behind naming the crustacean what they did was because "the researchers want to raise awareness."
Here's what Metallica had to say about the name.
We’ve played on all seven continents, made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and now… we’re a crustacean! Senckenberg researcher Dr. Torben Riehl and Dr. Bart De Smet of Ghent University in Belgium have discovered a new crustacean species in the depths of the northern Pacifica Ocean and decided to name it after some rock band… Welcome to our world Macrostylis metallicola!
First of all, stellar name Dr. Riehl. Second, what an honor! Not only did Dr. Riehn name his discovery after a band as he has been a fan since childhood, The Thing That Should Not Be has a few things in common with us. The worm-like creature dwells in complete darkness, has no eyes, and is colorless. Talk about Blackened! It also lives amongst metallic nodules containing cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, and rare-earth elements. So it basically lives in a rock stadium? Now that’s one metal crustacean!
You just never know what you’ll find “lurking beneath the sea.”
Catch Metallica at one of their coming shows, which now doesn't include Sonic Temple and Louder Than Life due to James Hetfield's ongoing recovery.
04/15 Santiago, CHL – Estadio Nacional [Tickets]
04/18 Buenos Aires, ARRG – Camp Argentino de Polo [Tickets]
04/21 Porto Alegre, BRA – Arena do Gremio [Tickets]
04/23 Curitiba, BRA – Estadio Couto Pereira [Tickets]
04/25 Sao Paulo, BRA – Estadio do Morumbi [Tickets]
04/27 Belo Horizonte, BRA – Estadio do Mineirao [Tickets]
05/01-03 Concord, NC – Epicenter Festival [Tickets]
05/08-10 Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville [Tickets]
09/26 TBA – Global Citizen Festival
10/09-11 Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival [Tickets]
[via MetalSucks]
